The Hottenstein Block, 225-231 W. Main St., CA. 1905 AND CA.1909-10.

Dating to the 1860's, after the original residence at Nos. 225 (Fisher/Fister) and 231 (Jacob Esser) burned in August 1859, the three adjacent structures along the north side of W. Main east of Strausser Alley also served as the residence and offices for several of the many Hottensteins who were medical professionals around Kutztown from the 18th through the 20th centuries.

No. 233, originally the residence of Aaron B. and Anna C. Manderbach, also housed a physicians office, from 1870 to 1884, of Issac N. E. Shoemaker, and then of Dr. Edward L. Hottenstein, who, after marrying Alice Stimmel, maintained his medical practice there from 1886 until 1919, following which the building housed the dental office of Abraham B. Johnson. By 1931, Dr. Jay A. Fairchild has taken over the practice. No. 233 eventually became a physicians office again in the early 1950s by Dr. Kenneth Lambert. Today the building is used as an apartment building to houses residents of the town and students from local Kutztown University.

Historical pictures and historical text © The Kutztown Area Historical Society